If you're lucky, sticking our her tongue will be the extent of your toddler's rudeness.

When kids are very young, it's easy to overlook some rude behaviors or let them slide. Don't do it! It's a lot harder to unlearn bad habits than it is to teach kids the right behaviors from the start. If your child is rude to you or someone else, call her on it right away. Don't leave any doubt in her mind that rudeness is unacceptable and will have undesirable consequences if it's repeated. Find a balance, though: don't overreact to minor slights or you're rewarding the child with lots of attention, which pretty much guarantees she'll repeat the rude behavior.

Respond promptly and calmly when your own child is rude. Point out the offending behavior, then clearly state why it's inappropriate and what she should have done instead. Speak in simple, direct terms appropriate to your child's age. "I am disappointed that you were rude to the nice lady at church. In our family, we answer nicely when someone asks how we're doing. It's not OK to stick out your tongue and run away." Take her to apologize for being rude and ensure she understands there will be consequences if she does it again.

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Model polite behavior at home and in public so your little ones see it and know what's expected. If you see other kids being rude, discreetly use the occasion as a "teachable moment" -- ask your child what the offender did that was rude and what he should have done instead. Although you may want to give other people's rude children a piece of your mind, this is typically frowned upon. If you know the child and her family well, you can tell her she's being rude and that you know her mommy would want her to behave more politely. If she's rude in your home, tell her such behavior is not allowed at your house and that she'll have to go home if she keeps being rude.

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Try to prevent rudeness in your own children from the beginning. Teach your child common courtesy and simple manners from a very young age. Even toddlers can learn the "magic words" -- please and thank you. Use everyday situations to demonstrate manners, such as dinner table etiquette and holding doors for others, for example. And don't forget to "catch them being good" -- acknowledge their efforts at manners or polite behavior and tell them you're proud of them.